HMCS Vancouver transits the Strait of Gibraltar and enters the Mediterranean Sea on the 16 August 2011. HMCS Vancouver departed Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt on 10 July 2011 to replace HMCS Charlottetown in the Mediterranean Sea for Operation Mobile. Under authority of the United Nations Security Resolution 1973 HMCS Vancouver together with Canada's NATO partners is enforcing an arms embargo and taking actions to protect civilians in Libya as part of Operation Unified Protector. HMCS Vancouver's presence demonstrates Canada's willingness and ability to assist in North Africa by creating a sustained maritime presence in the region while providing a range of readily deployable capabilities to the Government of Canada. (Photo by: Corporal (Cpl) Brandon O'Connell, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt)